An Indigent Criminal Defendant is Entitled to 'An Expert of His Own'

9 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2017 Last revised: 2 Oct 2017

See all articles by Fredrick E. Vars

Fredrick E. Vars

University of Alabama - School of Law

Date Written: April 25, 2017

Abstract

The Supreme Court yesterday (April 24, 2017) heard the case of an Alabama death row inmate, James McWilliams. A thus far overlooked argument could save his life and help level the playing field in other capital cases. The Court in 1985 promised independent expertise. Now is its chance to make good on that promise.

Keywords: indepedent expert, indigent defendant, death penalty, McWilliams v. Dunn, Ake v. Oklahoma

JEL Classification: K10, K14, K19

Suggested Citation

Vars, Fredrick E., An Indigent Criminal Defendant is Entitled to 'An Expert of His Own' (April 25, 2017). Washington and Lee Law Review, Forthcoming, U of Alabama Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2972252, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2958141

Fredrick E. Vars (Contact Author)

University of Alabama - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 870382
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
United States

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